Combination baggage rack and lighting fixture



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COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Original Filed April l5, 1936 Oct. 15, 1940. C .H LARSON ET'AL 2,217,688

Patented Oct. l5, 1940 COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Carl H. Larson, Elkhart, Ind., .lohn L. Mohun,

. Chicago, Ill., and Christian M. Verhagen,- Elkhart, Indf, assignors to The Adlake Company, Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of'Illinois Original application April 13, 1936, Serial No. 74,004. Divided and this application July 26,

1937, Serial No. 155,806

9 Claims. (Cl. 240-7.1)

This application is a division of our application filed April 13, 1936, Serial No. 74,004, which has matured into Patent #2,091,599.

This invention relates to baggage racks for railway cars, buses, and the like, and some of the more important objects of the invention are as follows: To provide a rack which is made up of readily assembled units; to combine a lighting fixture with the rack in such a manner that not only is proper lighting effected, but the appearance of the rack as a whole is greatly improved;. to provide means for obtaining access to the lighting fixture without completely disassembling the rack; and to construct the wall bracket and rack unit in such a way that slight variances in the positioning of the bracket are accommodated Without being apparent to persons within the car.

Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective View showing a preferred embodiment of the invention; y

Fig. 2 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken on the une 2 2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

` Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the wall bracket i spect to disclosure, but the appended claims are not to be limited to the construction shown and described unless the prior art requires that interpretation.

Referring first to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the rack consists of a plurality of rack units I0 (see also Fig. 6), end pieces I I (see also Fig. 7), and a plurality of intermediate wall brackets, generally designated I2, the latter serving the double function of supporting the rack units I0 and containing lighting fixtures for illuminating the car interior. s

The rack units I0 (Fig. 6) comprise a plurality of parallel supports I3, in the present case tubes, the ends of which are rigidly secured to right and left section castings I4 and I5, respectively, which 'brackets I2 to enable the unit to besecured to the bracket. Elongated slots 20 in the ears I9 accommodate slight variances in the positioning of the Iwall bracket, as will be later described in more detail.

The section castings I4 and I5, as well as the tubes, are preferably made of aluminum, although other material may, of course, be used.

The end piece II (Fig. 7) consists of an aluminum casting which, in general', hasI a shape corresponding to the section castings I4 and I5. Assuming'that the end piece is for the right end of the rack (as shown in Figs. 2 and 7) it will be seen that the section casting I4 is adapted to intert with the end piece, with the top and bottom portions of the marginal flange I8 resting upon the top and bottom flanges 2| and 22, respectively, of the end piece, and small cap screws 23 passing through, the elongated slots 20 in the section casting I4, and tapped holes 24 in the flange 2I secure the rack unit in place on the end piece.

It will be noticed in Fig. 2 that there is a clearance 25 between the section casting I4 and the end piecevl I, which enables slight variances in the positioning of the end piece II to be accommodated, and at the same time the bottom flange 22 of the end piece masks the spacing of the rack unit I0 from the end piece.

The end piece is secured to the car wall by suitable fastening means, as, for example, machine screws 26.

The wall brackets I2 each comprise a box housing 21, which extends substantially the full width of the rack, the top of the housing being closed by a cover 28 and the bottom by a lighttransmitting wall or bowl 29. The housing is preferably cast in aluminum, and has outwardly extending side ledges 30, upon which the flanges I8 of the adjacent rack units I0, or the downwardly facing surfaces thereof, are adapted to rest (see Fig. 2). The upper enlarged portion of each end piece I4, I5, or the downwardly facing surface thereof, is adapted to rest upon the top wall of the housing, which constitutes a sup- The castings are provided with a small porting ledge with the ears I9 mating with lugs 3l formed on the housing, or on a transverse member thereof connecting the side walls of the housing. The lugs have tapped holes 32 for receiving cap screws 33, which also pass through the elongated slots 20 in the ears I9 to hold the rack unit I0 in adjusted position on the wall bracket. As in the case of the end piece Il, the ledges 30 on the wall brackets I2 mask the spacing of the rack units I0 from the bracket so that, viewed from below, the rack has a neat appearance.

Within the housing 21 are lamp units 34, 35 and 36, the first two being used for ordinary lighting and controlled by a switch 31, and the smaller unit 36 being used as a ntight light under the control of the car attendant from a remote point. The lamp units 34 and 35 are supported in the housing by angle brackets 38 and 39, respectively, which are secured to one of the side walls of the housing by small nuts and bolts 40. Preferably the lamp units 34 and 35 are slightly out of axial alignment so as to provide suitable clearance for the lamp unit 36 and allow the bulbs of any one to be removed Without interference from either of the other bulbs within the housing.

The bowl 29 is removably secured in the housing, and comprises a molded translucent glass dish having slightly flared side walls 4I and end lips 42, the forward one of which is adapted to rest on the floor of the housing 21 (see Fig. 4), preferably a small gasket 43 is interposed between the lip and the housing, and the other upon a retaining strip 44 which is removably secured to the housing by small screws 45 entering lugs 46 formed on the floor of the housing 21.

In other words, the bowl is assembled with the housing by rst inserting the forward edge through the opening in the lower wall of the bracket and allowing the forward lip to rest on the floor of the housing, and then the rear portion of the bowl is raised into position and held in place by the retaining strip 44. In order to insure that the bowl 29 will not rattle Within the bracket, rubber strips 41 are secured to the inner side walls of the housing by retaining clips 48, held in place by nuts and bolts 49 (Fig. 2), and when the rear end of the bowl is lifted into place for application of the retaining strip 44 theside walls 4I of the bowl make firm engagement with the rubber strips 41 and prevent movement of the bowl relative to the bracket.

A plurality of binding posts 50 are fastened to the rear wall of the housing 21, and a pair of openings 5I on each side of the housing and in axial alinement with the two rear tubes of the rack units (see Figs. 3, 5 and 6) enable the necessary wiring to pass through the rack units obscured from the sight of passengers.

Access to the interior of the bracket is obtained through the cover 28, which is hinged to the housing 21, as indicated at 52, and overlaps the top flange of the adjacent section castings (see Fig. 2). The cover is provided with a closed rubber gasket 53, which, when the cover is secured in place by the thumb screw 54, positively insures that no light will leak out through the housing to cause undesirable lighits and shadows.

To increase the effectiveness of the lighting the cover 28 is equipped with a pair of reflectors 55, suitably spaced from the cover by brackets 56, as best shown in Fig. 4.

From the above description it will be seen that access to the lighting unit may be obtained by merely unscrewing the thumb screw 54 and opening the cover, and that in case the wall bracket must be removed for repair of the xtures the removal may easily be effected by merely taking off the adjacent rack units and then unscrewing the screws 51 which hold the bracket to the wall.

We claim:

1. In a vehicle, the combination of spaced wall brackets adapted to be secured to a side wall of the vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for removably supporting the unit on the brackets, each of said brackets being in the form of a box housing, extending throughout substantially the entire width of the rack unit and being of relatively deep cross section and supported from the wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers of sufficient` strength to carry the baggage rack load, a source of light within each bracket, the ma'jor portion of the bottom Wall of the housing being light transmitting,

2. In a Vehicle, the combination of spaced wall brackets adapted to be secured to a side wall of the vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for removably supporting the unit on the brackets, each of said brackets extending substantially the entire Width of the rack unit and including a box housing of relatively deep cross section, the brackets being supported on the side wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers having suicient strength in conjunction with the deep cross section of the boxhousing to carry the major portion of the baggage rack load, a main source of light within each bracket, an auxiliary source of light within each bracket,

the major portion of the bottom wall for the within each box housing, the major portion of r the bottom wall of the housing being light transmitting.

4. In a vehicle, the combination of spaced wall brackets adapted to be secured to a side wall of `the vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for removably supporting the unit on the brackets, each of said brackets extending substantially the entire width of the rack unit and including a box housing of relatively deep cross section the brackets being supported on the side wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers having suicient strength in conjunction with the deep cross section of the box housing to carry the major portion of the baggage rack load, at least a portion of the bottom Wall of the housing being light transmitting.

5. In a vehicle, the combination of spaced wall brackets adapted to be secured to a side wall of the vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for removably supporting the unit on the brackets, each of said brackets extending substantially the entire width of the rack unit and including a box housing having spaced substantially straight vertical walls of relatively deep cross section, a bottom wall, and a top wall, the brackets being supported on the side wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers having sufficient strength in conjunction with the deep side Walls of the box housing to carry the major portion of the baggage rack load, at least a portion of the bottom wall of the housing being light transmitting.

6. In a vehicle, the combination of spaced wall brackets adapted to be secured to a side wall of the vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for removably supporting the unit on the brackets, each of said brackets extending substantially the entire width of the rack unit and including a box housing having spaced substantially straight vertical walls of relatively deep cross section, a bottom wall, and a top Wall, the brackets being supported on the side Wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers having suicient strength in conjunction with the deep side walls of the box housing to carry the major portion of the baggage rack load, at least a portion of the bottom Wall of the housing being light transmitting, the 'upper Wall of said housing being removable to provide access into the housing.

7. In a vehicle, the combination of spaced Wall brackets adapted to be secured to a side wall of the vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for removably supporting the unit on the brackets, each of said brackets extending substantially the entire width ofthe rack unit and including a box housing having spaced substantially straight vertical walls of relatively deep cross section, a bottom wall, and a top wall, the brackets being supported on the side wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers having suicient strength in conjunction with the'deep side Walls of the box housing to carry the major portion of the baggage rack load, at least a portion of the.

bottom Wall of the housing being light transmitting, a source of light in the housing, the top wall of the housing being removable to pro-vide access into the housing, and a reflector behind the light source directing light downwardly through the light transmitting portion of the lower wall and being secured to the removable top wall.

8. In a vehicle, the combination of spaced wall brackets adapted to be secured to a side wall of the Vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for removably supporting the unit on the brackets, each of said brackets extending substantially the entire width of the rack unit and including a box housing having spaced substantially straight vertical walls of relatively -deep cross section, a bottom wall and a top Wall, the brackets being supported on the side wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers having suicient strength in conjunction with the deep side walls of the box housing to carry the major portion of the baggage rack load, at least a portion of the bottom wall of the housing being light transmitting, one of the walls of the box housing being removable to provide accessk into the housing.

9. In a vehicle, the combination of spacedwall brackets adapted to be secured to the side wall of the vehicle, a baggage rack unit, means for supporting the unit Von the brackets, each of said brackets extending substantially the entire Width of the rack unit and including a box housing of relatively deep cross section, the brackets being supported on the side Wall at vertically spaced points to make the brackets cantilevers having sucient strength inconjunction with the deep cross section of the box housing to carry the major portion of the baggage rack load, at least a portion of the bottom Wall of the hous ing being light transmitting.

CARL H. LARSON. JOHN L. MOHUN. CHRISTIAN M. VERHAGEN.- 

